Category Archives: Thankfulness

Lightening the Load

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The Mayo Clinic doesn’t generally do weekend appointments, so there are no new test results to report today. But the arrival of Nelson’s brother Lars from Chicago yesterday gave all of us a boost. Nelson, Ann Sophie, Will, and Lars are spending the holiday weekend at cousin Luke’s beautiful home 80 miles north of our apartment, where Luke continues to anticipate each need and stretch himself to meet it. He’s one of a kind.

During these days, all of us are sensing God’s close presence. Looking back on the week just ended, we see evidence of this dotting the days. One moment in particular served to sweep away disappointment and substitute joy.

Nelson, Ann Sophie, Will and I were together in an exam room listening to two experienced doctors describe what was going on in Nelson’s body. They came to the hard part about the places where cancer has taken hold, and the air became heavy with sadness.

But just then, baby Will decided to answer nature’s call, and with one quick grunt accompanied by lots of explosive noises, he filled his diaper.

 

All five of us burst out laughing—right in the middle of the sadness. Nelson said, “We call him the Authentic Man. He doesn’t hide anything from anyone.”

Sometimes silly moments like this are God’s way of showing us He’s nearby. And if we’ve been given too much to bear, he’ll lighten our load.

“Come to Me… My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28 & 30)

A Surge of Joy (con’t. from yesterday)

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Weeks after I’d misplaced the church key, I was dusting my dresser top while struggling to hold half-a-dozen things. Picking up more items as I pushed the dust cloth along, I accidentally nicked a full glass of water, toppling it. The swoosh was so forceful that the water knocked a dozen pairs of earrings off my decorative dresser tray, across the dresser, and onto the floor—like bowling pins smacked by a heavy ball.

The water flowed under the lamp and splashed over an embroidered makeup case. It soaked a stack of important papers and a clean, folded shirt. One quick move had morphed into a 20 minute clean-up.

Tossing my armload of stuff on the bed, I ran for a bathroom towel, chiding myself for such a blunder. Once the worst of it was mopped up, I spread out a dry Kleenex and began hunting for wet earrings. Three were missing their mates, so I began crawling around on the soggy carpet, feeling for these tiny items. One, then two popped out of the shag, but where was the third? Would I have to squeeze myself beneath the dresser to find it?

Under this particular dresser I store extra packs of wet wipes, the kind used for sticky toddler fingers and messy diapers. With my cheek pressed on the carpet and my arm stretched as far as it would go, I could barely touch them. But one by one, I pushed them aside. When I moved the very last package, there was the third earring—leaning on the church key.

I grabbed that key, scooted out from under the dresser, and clutched it to my heart as if it was the Lord himself. “God! You did it! You showed me!” and I started crying, a mix of astonishment and delight. God Almighty had directly connected with a hapless old woman to give her back what she’d lost.

 

As I cried there on the wet carpet, both hands protecting the key, I realized again that God is aware of my every need and will meet each one, eventually. He’s on my side and is always willing to help.

After I got hold of myself, the key and I walked to the computer screen and removed the $5.00, putting it in my purse for Sunday’s offering. After all, it was God who directed me to find what was lost, so the reward belonged to him.

I think I know why God put so many stories in the Bible about lost things being found. Though a wave of sparkling joy had surged through me when I saw that key, it probably can’t compare to the joy that surges through him every time a seeking soul finds him.

Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

In a Safe Place

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It’s not uncommon for me to put things away so well I can’t remember where they are. They aren’t lost, just hiding. The worst of it is that the more important the item, the harder it is to find.

More often than not, when I put these important items “away,” I’ll tell myself, “Take note. You’re putting this next to the computer paper in the hall closet.” Or, “Remember now. It’s in the far back right corner of your dresser drawer.” I take a good look, locking in the details and then walk away – forgetting.

Case in point: Last spring I was given a special key. It opened my church. I needed it for an evening ministry commitment when the church staff would be gone and the church locked. With my own key, I didn’t have to call for assistance but could open the door for our gathering, then lock it as we left.

The key found a safe spot on my car key ring, and it went along with me wherever I went. But then the time came to return the key. I removed it from the key ring and put it in a “safe place” to await my next trip to the church.

A few days later, when I looked for it, it was nowhere. I squeezed my eyes tight, trying to picture myself hiding it, coaxing my brain to think as I might have thought then. And then I started hunting. I moved every piece of furniture, swept thoroughly, emptied drawers and closet shelves. I prayed. I pleaded with God. I begged, crying out to him for help. As I talked to him, I knew he was looking right at that elusive key. Why wouldn’t he tell me where it was?

Days went by. Then weeks. I kept looking… to no avail.

When nine of my grandchildren came for a visit (the reason I had put the key in a safe place), I taped a five dollar bill to the computer screen and drew a picture of the missing key and it’s blue key fob. “Whoever finds it gets the money.” And oh how they searched! They were out under the bushes, and checking garbage bags, and searching through the car. But when those two weeks ended and they’d all gone home, the key was still at large.

Though I didn’t stop looking, I began writing a speech in my mind, a tail-between-the-legs apology to the pastor for having lost the church key.

But then…

“Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (Psalm 116:2 NLT)